Discovering free classical music concerts in Melbourne.

Combine a love of classical music, a limited budget and a few hours of research, and ‘voila!’ a wealth of opportunities present themselves for experiencing a variety of great music being performed at free concerts in Melbourne. Spoilt for choice with the range of events available, the next task is to choose which to attend according to whatever criteria suit you.

Both the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Melbourne University) and the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music (Monash University) offer free daytime and evening chamber music concerts. During each semester enjoy a musical lunch break on Mondays at Melbourne’s Melba Hall and on Thursdays in the Music Auditorium at Monash. Both universities also schedule free music events at other campuses and locations. Full programs are available online and in print form from Melbourne and Monash. Recently I enjoyed a feast of music during some concerts in a lunch hour series, including works by Schubert (Sutherland Trio) Ravel, Mozart and Tournier (Wilma and Friends) and Spohr, Schumann and Sutherland (Songmakers Australia).

Free evening concerts over summer are performed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, while during the year the...